Advent, (
Latin adventus, "coming"
) in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. It begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day) and is the beginning of the new church year. The date when the season was first observed is uncertain. Bishop Perpetuus of Tours (461–490) established a fast before Christmas that began on November 11 (St. Martin’s Day), and the Council of Tours (567) mentioned an Advent season. Its liturgical meaning referred to the dual “coming” of Jesus—his incarnation in Bethlehem and his second coming as judge at the end of time. Together with Lent it was observed as a penitential season, though not with the same rigour as Lent. Consequently, Advent developed increasingly into the joyful anticipation of Jesus’ birth.

Worshipper lighting a candle in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on the third Sunday of Advent.

Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jōl or the Anglo-Saxon geōl, which referred to the feast of the winter...

in Christianity, the future return of Christ in glory, when it is understood that he will set up his kingdom, judge his enemies, and reward the faithful, living and dead. Early Christians believed the Advent to be imminent (see millennium), and most Christian theologians since then have believed...

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Advent is the period of preparation in the Christian church beginning on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day) and continuing until the celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas (December 25); considered the beginning of the church year; date when season first observed is uncertain, possibly as early as 5th century; Protestant customs include adorning altars and pulpits in purple as a symbol of somber reflection; Roman Catholics forbid solemnization of marriage during Advent; Advent wreath bears four candles, one of which is lighted every Sunday until the Sunday before Christmas.